10Dec15

Former New Jersey Resident Admits Conspiring to Provide Material Support to
ISIL

A former resident of Bergen County, New Jersey, today admitted that he
conspired to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
(ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced Assistant Attorney
General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman of the
District of New Jersey and Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel of the
FBI's Newark Division.

"Nader Saadeh conspired with others, including his brother, to travel to Syria to
join ISIL," said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. "Counterterrorism is the
National Security Division's highest priority and we will continue to hold
accountable those who seek to provide material support to designated foreign
terrorist organizations."

"Nader Saadeh is the last of the three defendants charged in the District of New
Jersey in this case to admit his role in trying to provide material support to a
known terrorist organization," said U.S. Attorney Fishman. "ISIL is intent on
threatening the safety of Americans here and abroad, and we and our law
enforcement partners are just as intent on stopping them."

"Today in the District Court of New Jersey Nader Saadeh admitted he conspired
to provide material to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)," said
Special Agent in Charge Frankel. "He is one of three New Jersey men who
conspired to travel overseas to join ISIL but were stopped by the outstanding
work of the Newark FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. I ask the citizens of New
Jersey to remain vigilant and contact the FBI if they see or hear something
suspicious."

According to documents filed in this and related cases and statements made in
court:

Saadeh admitted that prior to his arrest on Aug. 10, 2015, by the FBI Joint
Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), he planned to travel overseas to join ISIL along
with others. Saadeh discussed his plans to join ISIL with his brother, Alaa
Saadeh, Samuel Rahamin Topaz, Munther Omar Saleh and Fareed Mumuni, and
admitted that at various times each of them indicated that they wanted to join
ISIL. Saadeh also admitted that he and these other men watched ISIL-related
videos, some of which depicted the execution of individuals - both Muslim and
non-Muslim - regarded by ISIL as enemies.

On May 5, 2015, Saadeh departed the United States with plans to travel overseas
to join ISIL in furtherance of the conspiracy, according to his statements in court
today. Saadeh admitted that once he reached ISIL-controlled territory he
intended to fight on behalf of ISIL. Saadeh further admitted that Saleh assisted
him by giving him a contact who would facilitate his travel from Turkey to ISIL in
Syria.

Saadeh admitted that prior to his departure from the United States, Saleh
showed him technical drawings for making homemade bombs. Saadeh further
told the court that Saleh and Mumuni discussed plans to carry out an attack in
ISIL's name using homemade bombs at locations in New York City, including
Times Square, the World Trade Center and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and
Technology, in Queens, New York.

Saadeh admitted knowing that ISIL was a designated foreign terrorist
organization and was taking over territory overseas, expelling non-Muslims from
their homes and executing individuals who did not obey ISIL's commands.

The count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign
terrorist organization carries a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison
and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2016.

Saadeh's alleged conspirators are being prosecuted and are currently in federal
custody. On Sept. 9 and Oct. 29, 2015, respectively, Topaz and Alaa Saadeh
pleaded guilty before Judge Wigenton to conspiring to provide material support
to ISIL. Saleh and Mumuni have been indicted on terrorism-related charges
brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of New York. The
charges and allegations against Saleh and Mumuni are merely accusations, and
they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Attorney Fishman and Assistant Attorney General Carlin credited special
agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frankel in
Newark, and the JTTF with the investigation leading to today's guilty plea. The
JTTF is made up of agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security's Homeland Security Investigations, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office,
Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, New Jersey State Police, Paterson Police
Department, and New York City Police Department, among other federal, state,
and local law enforcement agencies.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Judson Welle,
Dennis C. Carletta and Francisco J. Navarro of the District of New Jersey, with
assistance from Trial Attorney Robert Sander of the National Security Division's
Counterterrorism Section.

This document has been published on 01Feb16 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with
Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a
prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational
purposes.